Masquerade Ball ready to face his biggest challenge yet

Connections of Japanese raider Masquerade Ball said their star is ready to run the “biggest race of his life” in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The four-year-old, who finished a head behind Calandagan in the Japan Cup last November, was put through his paces alongside fellow Japanese runner Wurttemberg on the Long Hill Polytrack at Newmarket on Wednesday.

Speaking through a translator, trainer Takahisa Tezuka said travel and preparations had all gone smoothly for a horse he believes is a “bigger and stronger” individual than the one beaten by Calandagan last year.

“He has matured and developed a lot from three to four, not just mentally but physically as well,” said Tezuka. “He is a lot bigger and stronger. I was nervous about the journey over, but everything went smoothly. The horse seems very happy, while his training is going better than I expected.”

Both Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg arrived in the UK on July 12 following a flight from Tokyo to Amsterdam via Anchorage in Alaska before completing the final leg of the journey to James Horton’s Newmarket stables by road.

Having travelled only as far as Hong Kong with Masquerade Ball before, connections were concerned about such a long trip – but with that box ticked it is the final mile and a half at the Berkshire track which is now sharpening the mind.

“The King George is one of the biggest races in the UK – it is a dream to bring him here. We have tried to give him the best preparation, so we hope for the best while also enjoying the experience because it is an honour to be involved,” said Tezuka.

“This race is the biggest of Masquerade Ball’s life so far. Calandagan is not the only horse we have to think about, even though there was only a head between us in the Japan Cup, because there are a lot of other strong competitors. We are looking forward to seeing how much our horse has developed since then.”

Masquerade Ball’s jockey Christophe Lemaire said in April the colt has the potential to be “one of the greats” of Japanese racing. Tezuka added: “I was very happy with those comments. Christophe has ridden many great horses, including Equinox, so it was an honour to hear that from such a great jockey.

“The horse’s owner Mr (Teruya) Yoshida loves Ascot racecourse and, from last year, pushed me to challenge for this race. The King George rather than the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is our main reason for bringing Masquerade Ball to Europe.”

Ascot’s undulations will present a different test for the Japanese raider horse, but Tezuka insisted he was “hopeful” the four-year-old’s class will allow him to adapt.

“In Japan, the racecourses are very flat with no undulations, so Ascot will be a very different challenge. The downhill section could be quite difficult, as it is hard to imitate running downhill (in his training), but I am hopeful that he will be able to overcome this.

“I initially thought that a mile and a quarter was Masquerade Ball’s best distance. However, as time has gone on, I think a mile and a half is more appropriate for him.”

Fellow traveller Wurttemberg arrives on the back of a career-best second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) over two miles at Kyoto, going down by a nose to last year’s Japanese Derby winner Croix Du Nord.

The six year-old’s trainer Hiroshi Miyamoto said: “The owner gave me the choice of two races, the King George or the Goodwood Cup. I chose the King George because it is a highly prestigious and honourable race. For me, it is the number one race in the UK.

“Wurttemberg has good stamina, having raced up to distances of 3,600 metres (two and a quarter miles), and I think Ascot’s mile and a half with the undulations should be suitable for him.

“Oisin Murphy is the number one jockey here, so we are excited for him to ride the horse. He knows Ascot very well and we will rely on him.”